Community partnerships and the J.A.C. help troubled youth

Spectrum, by Jim Holen

Hooray for all the juveniles in our community! Our children and teens represent our hopes and dreams for the future. We nurture our young people for nearly two decades in hopes that they become happy, well-adjusted and successful adults. We try to provide our children a lot of opportunity, and we expect great things from them. Despite the love and guidance of their families and all of the various community-care providers, however, our kids can sometimes get "off track," developing behavioral problems and emotional disturbances that cause all of us concern for their futures, and for our future.

We rejoice when our kids learn to walk and talk, grow strong and healthy, get along with others, succeed in school, and learn to be happy, responsible and self-reliant young people. Sometimes, however, even seemingly well adjusted kids can develop worrisome behavioral difficulties. These concerning behaviors include extreme mood changes, depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, suicidal ideas, running away, aggressiveness, extreme defiance, misconduct, and even violent behavior. Kids can sometimes have great difficulties adjusting to such challenges as learning disabilities or family problems, troubles with paying attention, coping with personal or family member's health problems, or dealing with the aftermath of traumatic events such as child abuse, neglect or traumatic injury.

One local source of help for youth ages 3 to 18 who are exhibiting behavioral difficulties is the Juvenile Assessment Center, a youth services program of The Saxton Youth Shelter, a local nonprofit service. By calling 357-6713 to schedule a child's no-cost, confidential assessment, youth and their parents or guardians can identify additional options for solving problems and meeting needs. The J.A.C. staff, master-level clinicians, have met with nearly 1,500 youth in the past three years to assist them and their families to better understand their strengths and their needs, and to become connected when needed to appropriate resources for help in the community. Follow-up surveys indicate that more than 85 percent of parents reported satisfaction with the help received through contacts with the J.A.C.

The J.A.C. is part of the federally funded Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative grant awarded to the Mat-Su Borough School District in 2000 to support a community partnership that advocates for youth development and success. The J.A.C. has been administered in turn by Mat-Su Recovery Center, Life Quest (now Behavioral Health Services of Mat-Su), and currently by Kids Are People Inc., a local nonprofit agency.

Sometimes youth and their families find that they can meet their needs by simply utilizing family strengths and by becoming better connected to local community organizations. Groups such as those available in their schools, churches, scouting groups, Boys and Girls Club, sports clubs, performing arts groups, 4H, tribal councils, and a variety of other supports provide youth and families ways to develop the assets needed for success. Consult the Frontiersman and phone book for listings of additional community resources.

In some cases youth might also need the assistance of behavioral health treatment providers in the community. Agencies such as Mat-Su Recovery Center, Behavioral Health Services of Mat-Su (formerly Life Quest), and Mat-Su Services for Children and Adults, in addition to various local private practitioners, provide treatment for youth and support for families to help them succeed. Comprehensive evaluations and treatment if needed are also available from Providence Behavioral Medicine Group and from Holladay and Associates, both of whom can accept payment by Denali Kid Care/Alaska Medicaid. Alaska Family Resource Center, the Children's Place, Mat-Su Youth Court, the Office of Children's Services, Strengthening Families, and other organizations affiliated with the Mat-Su Agency Partnership are also some of the organizations offering help and hope to young people and their families.

Sometimes youth need to be held directly accountable for their own inappropriate actions within their homes, schools and community. Youth with unmet needs who have been experiencing various setbacks in their lives can also do things that cause hurt toward others. A community partner that provides "tough love" for youth charged by police with a serious crime is the Mat-Su Youth Facility. This facility provides youth with secure, temporary detention when needed to intervene in a youth's criminal misconduct. Secure detention can help these youth gain a new understanding of their behavior and also help them begin the restorative justice process. The MSYF also provides ongoing supervision through the Division of Juvenile Justice-Probation. An additional benefit for everyone is that the public is offered further protection from possible future criminal acts by these youth in need of assistance. The Alaska State Troopers, Wasilla Police Department and Palmer Police Department are also community partners that provide protection, intervention and referral for youth in need of assistance.

Sometimes youth need to have a safe respite from their homes, or are in fact homeless, and need help in reconnection with their families and with the community. The Saxton Youth Shelter, the Family Mediation Program and the Transitional Living Center, programs of KAP Inc. at 376-6016, provide emergency shelter and family mediation, as well as long-term transitional housing for youth ages 16-22.

A network of care is available for troubled youth and their families in the Mat-Su Valley. The Juvenile Assessment Center was established by community collaboration as a single point of entry for parents and guardians to bring their children when there are concerns about how they are behaving currently, or about their overall development. Check out the J.A.C. at www.jac.mat-su.k12.ak.us or call 357-6713 for further information. "We are here for you, to talk to someone who can help."

Jim Holen

J.A.C. clinical director